well you are getting fleeced for the Rafale, and don't get me wrong Rafale is in my top 3 fighter jets if not number 1.
F-18 Super Hornets can do deep penetration strikes, not as well as the Rafale, but it can be done and it is omnirole, and what strings that would be attached we really don't know . only times I know when the US and India has came to head butts was over nuclear testing and Muslim riot killings.
if you want to spend $200 million per on the Rafales and on weapons that will cost twice or even three times than what you would with U.S weapons then go ahead
either way you are looking at a few more years of dealing and even more time before you start getting fighters